‘Not at the moment,’ said Eisenhorn. ‘Not all the time, perhaps. I’d like everyone to prepare themselves. If this works, even in part, there may be some discomfort and disorientation.’

Nayl gripped Drusher firmly and securely by the upper arm. Drusher looked at his hand in surprise.

‘What–’ he started to say.

‘Stick with me,’ Nayl said.

Jaff was objecting again. Eisenhorn ignored her, raised his hands and said something.

It was a word, or at least it seemed to be. Drusher didn’t know it or understand it. He’d never heard it before in his life.

And he never wanted to hear it again.

Fifteen

FIFTEEN

Simultaneous Reality Overlays

‘Stick with me,’ said Nayl.

Drusher was clawing at his head with his fingers. There was a migraine-sharp knot of pain behind his eyes. He could smell blood in his throat. Nausea wallowed through him.

‘What?’ he said. ‘What? What?’

He heard Nayl again, saying his name. Nayl’s voice was obscured by the sound of a drum. Drusher realised it was the blood pounding in his ears.

‘What?’ he repeated frantically. ‘What did it mean? What did he say?’

He retched hard and fell, dry-heaving, onto the cold stone floor. His stomach was in spasm.

Nayl crouched beside him and patted him on the back.

‘Take it slow,’ he said. ‘You’ll level out in a moment.’

Drusher nodded. He couldn’t talk.

‘You all right?’ Nayl asked.

Drusher rocked back onto his heels and knelt, panting.

‘I don’t know what…’ he gasped, wiping his mouth. ‘That word. That sound. I don’t understand what he said. I don’t understand what the word was.’

‘Stay calm,’ said Nayl. ‘Take a few deep breaths.’

‘Why are you whispering?’ Drusher asked.

‘Just stay calm.’

Drusher shifted position, because the hard stone floor was digging into his knees…

Hard stone floor.

Drusher looked down and jumped to his feet with a startled cry.

‘Take it easy,’ said Nayl.

Drusher slowly looked around. The room was some kind of vaulted chamber of unusual height. The walls and arched ceiling were made of fashioned white stone. The floor was dark green marble. There were tall lancet windows of stained glass. Exterior light shafted into the room through the windows, covering the floor with a multicoloured pattern.

He looked at Nayl.

‘We were right,’ said Nayl.

Drusher shook his head.

‘Please tell me,’ he said, ‘that I passed out or something, and you took me back to Helter–’

‘No,’ said Nayl.

‘But we were in the woods,’ said Drusher.

‘And now we’re not,’ replied Nayl. ‘Except I think we are. We’re in the woods and inside Keshtre.’

‘Where are the others?’ asked Drusher.

‘Not sure,’ said Nayl. ‘But if we’ve appeared inside the hall, or it’s manifested around us… whatever… then…’

He gestured to the wall.

‘Macks and Jaff were over there. The others just beyond them. So… that wall appeared between us.’